Hanger for light fixtures and the like



* April 16, 1968 W.WOL.AR ETAL 3,378,221

HANGER FOR LIGHT FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTO RIS 9721M; av W044? BY Mum? W0; A!

1 I I ATTOR.

April 16, 1968 w WOLAR ET AL 3,378,221

HANGER FOR LIGHT FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 674 NA 5) 14 0414? Mum/7 I United States Patent 3,378,221 HANGER FOR LIGHT FIXTURES AND THE LIKE William Wolar, 59 Fremont Road, North Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591, and Stanley Wolar, 45 Shirley Lane, White Plains, NY. 10607 Filed Aug. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 571,874 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-343) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ceiling hanger for lighting fixtures including an apertured plate secured to the ceiling, a U-shaped element with hook-like ends supported from said plate and supporting a hook-type link, and a collar assembly releasably secured to the link and supporting a dished canopy against the ceiling.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved hanger assembly including a ceiling bracket and cooperating dependent linkage means which can be arranged to accommodate ceiling canopies of difiterent depths and at the same time provide an attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved link assembly for attachment of a pendant fixture to the ceiling that greatly facilitates installation of the fixture and yet affords secure support.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved hanger for lighting fixtures and the like which facilitates installation of the fixture and automatically accommodates canopies of different depths.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved hanger assembly for lighting fixtures.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in partial section of one embodiment of a hanger in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 2--2 thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 3-3 thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the hanger assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the ceiling bracket shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the ceiling bracket and U-shaped hanger strap for accommodating a deeper canopy.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling bracket and hanger strap shown in FIGURE 1 which is arranged for accommodation of a shallow canopy.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified ceiling strap in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the strap shown in FIGURE 8 with a depending link in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive, 10 denotes a hanger strap having a central olfset section 11 including an elongated opening 12 and slotted opening 13 at each end of the opening 12. The end portions 14 of the strap each has a slotted opening 15 for attachment of the strap to a ceiling box 16 or other suitable support by means of screws 17. While the offset portion 11 of the strap 10 is advan- "ice tageous since it enables inversion of the strap to accommodate canopies of different depths, it will become evident that the strap need not be ofiset and, furthermore, can be of circular or other configuration.

The strap 10 supports a first link 18 of U-shaped configuration having a transverse portion 19, upwardly extending legs 20 and reversely formed end portions 21 on the legs. The distance between the legs 20 is made approximately equal to the length of the strap slot 12 and the slots 13 are spaced from the slot 12 to accommodate the reversely formed leg portions 21 and thereby secure the link 18 in position on the strap.

A light fixture supporting chain generally denoted by the numeral 22 is coupled to the link 18 by an intermediate link 23 illustrated more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4. This link is of generally rectangular section and has an elongated central opening 24. The upper end of link 23 has an opening 25 and an inclined slot 26 intersecting the opening to form hook-like portion 27. When using a link 18 formed of flat stock, it may be desirable to form the opening 25 with a fiat wall portion 25' and position the slot 26 so that it intersects the opening 25 at a point spaced from the wall portion 25 to provide more positive engagement between the links.

The link 23 is secured in engagement with the link 18 by cooperation of a collar assembly comprising a cylindrical element 28 and a collar 29 with the canopy 30. The cylindrical element 28 has an annular wall 31 and a bottom wall 32, the latter including an elongated slot 33 for slidably receiving the link 23 and a pair of openings 34 to accommodate wiring for the light fixture. The diameter of the cylindrical element 28 is smaller than the opening 35 in the canopy 36 so that the canopy can be moved downwardly over the element 28. This is desirable since the element 28, when in engagement with the link 23, can only move downwardly to the first link 22 supporting a light fixture and the canopy 36 must be able to be moved over the links 22 to facilitate wiring of the light fixture to a source of electrical energy available within the box 16.

The collar 29 has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the element 28 so that they may be slidably engaged. An upper flange 37 on the collar 29 has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the opening 35 in the canopy 36 so that the shoulder 38 in the collar 29 will abut the edge of the canopy. The bottom edge of the collar 29 has an inwardly formed flange 39 which engages the underside of the cylindrical element 28 as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 3. The inside diameter of the flange 39 is large enough to permit the collar 29 to move downwardly over the links 22.

To facilitate assembly of the cylindrical element 28, the collar 29 and the canopy 36, the collar 29 has a threaded opening 40 to threadably receive a screw 41. The cylindrical element 28 has an opening 42 which is aligned with the longer axis of the elongated slot 33 in the bottom surface thereof. With this arrangement and after the fixture is wired in the customary manner, the collar 29 is moved upwardly into engagement with the element 28 and with the holes 40 and 42 in registry, the screw 41 is installed and tightened to bear against the side of the link 23. Prior to tightening the screw 41, the collar assembly is moved snugly against the collar to hold the latter against the ceiling. It will also be observed that when the canopy is held snugly in place by the collar assembly, the link 23 is held in firm engagement with the link 18.

If desired, cooperating means may be employed on the element 28 and the collar 29 to facilitate registry of the holes 40 and 42. One structure for the attainment of this involves the utilization of channels 43 in the outer surface of the cylindrical element 28 and cooperating ridges 44 on the inner surface of the collar 29. In this Way the collar and element will automatically be aligned with the openings 40 and 42 and will be in precise registry.

The invention as thus far described facilitates the utilization of canopies of different depths. If a canopy somewhat shallower than the canopy 36 is employed, the strap 10 as shown in FIGURE 1 can be inverted so that the offset portion 11 extends upwardly as shown in FIGURE 7. Should an exceedingly deep canopy be employed, a longer link 18 may be utilized. Such a link is illustrated in FIGURE 6 and denoted by the numeral 18'. This link is identical in all respects to the link 18 except that the legs 20 of the link 18' are substantially longer than the legs 20 of the link 18.

An alternative form of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9, and embodies a single link in place of the links 18 and 23. More specifically, a single elongated link 45 is employed and the strap 46 is modified to accommodate and support the link. The link 45 may be made of rectangular or round stock though in this instant illustration it is formed of round stock. The bottom end 47 of the link 45 is rounded and the upwardly extending legs 48 are spaced so that the width of the link is approximately equal to the width of the link 23 in order to accommodate the cylindrical element 28 and the collar 29 in the same manner previously described. The upper portions 48 of the legs 48 are spaced apart a slightly greater distance than the lower portion of the legs 48 and the upper ends of the legs terminate in reversely formed hook portions 50. The strap 46 has a central elongated opening 51 and a pair of openings 52 spaced from the ends of the elongated opening 51, With this arrangement the link 45 can be moved downwardly through the opening 51 and the reversely formed hooks 50' into engagement with the openings 52. With this arrangement the links 22 supporting a fixture would directly engage the link 45 of the canopy 36, and the cylindrical element 28 and collar 29 would be assembled on the link 48 in the same manner previously described.

It will be observed that both of the straps 10 and 46 include circular openings 12' and -1 which intersect the longitudinal openings 12 and 51 respectively. These circular openings are provided to facilitate attachment of the strap to a threaded stud or pipe carried by the box 16 or otherwise secured to the ceiling.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ceiling hanger for lighting fixtures and the like comprising a ceiling bracket, depending link means coupled to said ceiling bracket, said link means extending from said ceiling a distance greater than the depth of a dished canopy adapted to enclose said bracket and having a central opening through which said link means protrudes, and a collar assembly releasably secured to said link and holding said canopy in place against the ceiling, said collar assembly comprising a cylindrical element having an elongated link means receiving slot extending in an axial direction therethrough and an outside diameter smaller than said canopy opening, a collar surrounding said cylindrical element, said collar having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said canopy opening and a portion of reduced diameter slidably engaging said canopy opening and means securing the collar assembly relative to said link means and holding the canopy snugly against the ceiling, said ceiling bracket including a plate having spaced means for securing it to a ceiling, an elongated central opening and a small opening spaced from each end of the last said elongated opening and said link means includes a link having a U-shaped body and outwardly formed hook portions on the ends of said legs, said body extending through said elongated openings with the hook portions engaging the small openings.

2. A ceiling hanger according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical element and said collar have radially aligned holes and said securing means comprises a screw extending through said holes and threadably engages at least one of said holes and bears against said link means, said cylindrical element further having at least one axially directed opening adjoining said link receiving slot and said cylindrical element and collar include cooperating aligning means to hold said radial holes in registry.

3. A ceiling hanger according to claim 1 wherein said ceiling bracket includes a plate having spaced means for securing it to a ceiling, an elongated central opening and a small opening spaced from each end of the last said elongated opening and said link means includes a first link having a U-shaped body and outwardly formed hook portions on the ends of said legs, said body extending through said elongated openings with the hook portions engaging the small openings, and a second elongated link having a hook portion on one end thereof engaging said first link, said second elongated link extending through said canopy opening.

4. A ceiling hanger according to claim 3 wherein said plate has a central portion offset from the plane of the outer portions and said elongated opening and said small openings are formed in said offset portion.

5. A ceiling hanger for lighting fixtures comprising a plate having spaced means for securing it to a ceiling, an elongated central opening and small openings spaced from the ends of said central opening, a U-shaped element having a pair of legs and a transverse member joining said legs, an outwardly formed hook-like member on the end of each leg, said element extending through said central opening with said hook-like members engaging said small openings and a fixture supporting link engaging said element for the support of said fixture.

6. A ceiling hanger according to claim 5 wherein said link includes a hook-like member on one end engaging said element, fixture engaging and supporting means on the other end and an annular canopy engaging member disposed between the ends thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,841,727 1/1932 Glowacki 248345 X 2,767,954 10/1956 Wolar 248345 3,323,770 6/1967 Wolar 248345 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

